“We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.”[1] Paul’s words to the early church seems to speak to us even today as we step back and look at the journey The Edge has taken since its conception in 2006. As we conversed over the larger picture of our stories, we could see an almost rhythmic flow from great highs of success to the challenges of loss and the lows we experienced. Not only could we see the presence of God sustaining us through those moments, we could witness the promises he has for us in future. Even in the deepest moments of loss, God will bring others into our story as we seek his guidance and wait upon his works.

There is also the recognition of God strengthening us in the courage to move beyond the edges of our own understanding. Two years ago we would have never considered or thought we would be partnering with a house church movement in Cuba. It is a relationship that is not only supporting the incredible ministry they are doing there, but also inspiring us as leaders to take seriously the role we have in discipling and reconciling the neighborhoods around us.

Andrew Holmes said, “It is well to remember that the entire population of the universe, with one trifling exception, is composed of others.”[2] The story of The Edge is as we’ve seen from the beginning, transcendent to the nature of our current state and the relationships we have today.

Throughout our existence God has been preparing others outside of our scope, which he has intended to bring into our narrative. In essence, as Abraham was blessed with a child to be a blessing to the nations, Israel became a blessing to the gentiles, and The Edge too has been blessed through the witness of embracing tribes such as those in Vancouver, Vernon, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, and Cuba with the promise of being sent to those who we also unconditionally embrace at the margins of our communities. Francis Bacon gives us the encouragement that, “It’s not what we eat but what we digest that makes us strong; not what we gain but what we save that makes us rich; and not what we profess but what we practice that gives us integrity.”[3]

The future is filled with the questions of whom and where are we sent to go, and yet we can hold to the promise that God is with us and through the foundation of the relationships he builds around us, we will grow as His church for the purpose of glorifying his mission and calling. To ask who we are as a church, don’t look inside to the existing body of today, look towards the edges of tomorrow!!